Protector for trousers



y 2, 1953 A. PAGANO 2,637,916

PROTECTOR FOR TROUSERS Filed Nov. 21, 1950 INVENTOR: AND/25A mean/0,

Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATE.

iii ori ice Application November 21, 1950, Serial No. 196,735 In France December 10, 1949 4 Claims.

tion to provide a protector that can swiftly be attached securely, and may easily be detached.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of exemplifications thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of protectors for trousers in accordance with the invention, as used by a wearer, and shown extending above the lower edge of a raincoat of the wearer;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a single protector, but showing an embodiment extending only throughout the lower leg portion of the trousers;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view disclosing the attaching mechanism that is connected to the protector;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line t-t of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the attaching mechanism in locked position; and

Fig. 6 is a large-scale sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 5, each protector is composed of a shield generally indicated at H and an attaching mechanism that is connected to the shield II and generally designated at H. The shield i i is of hollow sleeve form and is composed of waterproof pliable material. It may either be made transparent or be made of a material matching that of the leg portion of the trousers l3 in order to be inconspicuous when worn. The shield I i may extend preferably above the lower edge of a raincoat, such as illustrated at [4 in Fig. 1, and may project upwardly above the knees, as shown in Fig. 1, or may terminate below the knees as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The shield ll may he slid over the trouser leg portion I 3 and then be fastened thereto by means of the attaching mechanism I2. That mechanism 2v it comprises two arms It and ii for instance composed of metal or the like, and each arm is connected to the shield I l by suitable connecting means, such as for instance by stitching [8 (Figs. 3 and l). Each arm has formedthereon one or more hinge parts, providing a hinge IQ for said arms it and ii. In the specific example illustrated, the arm 1'? has an integral upper hinge part 2! and a lower hinge part 22, and the.

arm it has an integral hinge part 23 located therebetween. Each of the hinge parts is of noncircular shape and may for'instance be of tri-' angular shape as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, or of any other regular non-circular shape such as a square shape or the like. The hinge i9 is preferably made tapered throughout the width of the arms l6 and ii, converging downwardly, so that the top point of the hinge part 2i is larger than the bottom point of the hinge part 22, and the remainder of the hinge converging gradually between these two points. The hinge parts 2! and 22 are arranged in registry, and the hinge part 23 is so arranged relative thereto that it will he in registry therewith when the arms it and H are folded about the hinge into a closed position as shown in Fig. 6.

In the open position, as shown in Fig. 4, the hinge part 23 is out of registry with the hinge parts 2! and 22.

A pin generally designated 24 is arranged centrally of the hinge It, that serves as a hinge pin and at the same time to lock the arms I6 and I! in closed position (Fig. 6). The pin 24 is longer than the height of the arms to and Il, and comprises an upper non-circular portion 26 that has a contour matching that of the non-circular hinge parts 2l-23 and is tapered in accordance with the taper of the hinge it, and a lower circular portion 2?. The lower circular portion 21 has a smaller width than the smallest width on the interior of the hinge it. so that the hinge may be operated and the arms it and ll be moved relative to each other about the hinge, when said lower portion 2? is disposed in the hinge parts 23 and 22.

The pin M is provided at its upper end with a knob 32 and at its lower end with an enlargement such as a riveted head 33, to prevent removal of the pin off the hinge [9.

When the arms 56 and Ii are closed (Fig. 6), the pin 24 may be pushed downwardly so that the upper portion 26 thereof will be placed throughout all of the hinge parts 21-23, thereby locking the same for restraining movement of said arms l6 and I! from that locked position.

Each of the arms [6 and I1 is provided on its far end with an extension 28 projecting inwardly of the arm so that they are facing oppositely in closed position, and each extension 28 is preferably provided near its terminal edge with a piece of yielding material such as a strip 29 made of rubber or the like. Each of the arms l6 and I! may furthermore be lined with a lining 3| of rubber or the like, and these rubber pieces 29 and 3| are provided to protect the leg portions 13 of the trousers against damage by contact with the metallic material of the arms I6 and I1.

When the protector is worn, the leg portion l3 of the trousers is firmly gripped near the crease I5 thereof between the opposite extensions 28, thereby providing for a secure attachment of the protector to the trousers.

The operation is as follows:

The shield II is first slipped over the trouser leg l3, while the hinge i9 is open and the pin 2 in the upper position shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter, the arms l6 and I! are moved about the hinge [9 until the extensions 28 of said arms grip the trouser leg I 3. Subsequently, the pin 24 is pushed downwardly until the upper portion 26 thereof is emplaced in the registering hinge parts 2 |--23, thereby locking the hinge l9 and restraining movement of the arms [6 and H.

To open the hinge IS, the pin 24 is moved from the lower position (Fig. 5) into the upper position (Fig. 3) wherein the circular portion 21 of the pin 24 is disposed in the hinge parts 22 and 23 permitting opening of the hinge 19 by moving the arms [6 and I1 apart into their open position (Fig. 4).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the novel principles of the invention disclosed herein in connection with specific exemplification thereof will suggest various other modifications and applications of the same. It is accordingly desired that in construing the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific exemplifications of the invention described herein.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a protector for trousers, a shield including a waterproof pliable sleeve dimensioned and operable for surrounding a leg of trousers, and means for releasably attaching said shield to said leg comprising two hinged arms, each arm being connected to said shield, said arms being movable relative to each other between a closed position and an open position, each arm including an extension projecting inwardly in said closed position whereby a portion of said leg may be gripped between said extensions disposed oppositely in the closed position, a. hinge intermediate said arms and including coaxially arranged hinge parts connected to said arms, said hinge parts being hollow and non-circular and tapered converging downwardly throughout the length of said hinge and being in aligned registry in the closed position, a pin disposed in said hollow hinge parts and having a portion of non-circular tapered shape matching that of said parts and a circular portion of restricted diameter, said pin being movable axially of said hinge between an inactive station wherein at least one of said hinge parts may be turned about said circular portion and an active station wherein said non-circular portion may be received by said hinge parts when in registry to lock the same.

2. In a protector for trousers, as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that, said hinge parts and portion of said pin having a triangular shape.

3. In a protector for trousers, as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that, said pin including a knob on top of said pin and an enlargement on the bottom of said pin, each dimensioned in excess of the width of said hinge parts, to restrain pin removal.

4. In a protector for trousers, as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that, said arms include a lining composed of yieldable material to protect said leg from damage by said arms.

ANDREA PAGANO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 562,784 Fisher June 23, 1896 1,211,472 Marcelli Jan. 9, 1917 1,527,825 Baggerud Feb. 2a, 1925 

